Man struck on head with hammer doesn’t want his attacker to go to jail for ‘silly act’
A man who was attacked with a hammer has said that he doesn’t want his assailant to go to prison “for a silly act blown out of proportion”.In a Victim Impact Statement to a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court the 53-year-old described what occurred when he was struck on the head as a “trivial matter”.“I don’t think there is any bad blood. I have moved on. Things are good and amicable,” he continued in the statement which was read out by prosecuting counsel.Before Judge Dara Hayes was Colin Gray (38), Park Street, Coulter Place, Dundalk, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm at the victim’s home in O’Hanlon Park, Dundalk, on September 9, 2023.Evidence was given that he had gone there after his daughter felt threatened by the other man’s son.Gda Paul Gallagher testifed that he and a colleague were sent to the scene at 5.55pm following a report that a man had been attacked with a hammer.There he met the injured party who was bleeding from a cut to the back of his head. He was upset and agitated. An ambulance was called.This man complained that he had been assaulted by two men, one of whom was Colin Gray who had a hammer.CCTV captured most of what happened and showed the accused arriving in a vehicle with another person. An interaction occurred resulting in the assault.Gda Gallagher continued that Mr Gray, a married father of five, was arrested on October 22, and that there was no medical report on the man he struck.The court said that previous convictions for Section 3 possession of drugs and Road Traffic matters going back to 2006-’07 were not relevant.It was pointed out that the victim was present, sitting with the accused’s family.Barrister Fergal McMorrow said that his client was a positive influence on his children, two of whom provided references.He was a lorry driver, road sweeping with a private company. There was a reference from his employer.The defendant suffered serious injuries when in a motorbike accident aged 20 which meant he couldn’t continue working as a bricklayer.He used money from a significant compensation claim for various business ventures.Read moreGarda drugs unit intercepts drone flying near Portlaoise PrisonRead more‘He took his gun with him’ - Weeks of threatening phone calls led to rural Kerry stand-off, court hearsMr McMorrow asked the court to have regard to the attitude of the victim. It was a significant mistake on Mr Gray’s part.Judge Hayes remarked that this was serious offending. A weapon had been used to cause injury.Mr Gray had gone to the house, perhaps seeking to protect his daughter but had done so wrongly and inappropriately and shouldn’t have gone with a hammer.To cause a head wound, by any measure, was serious offending, and would require an immediate custodial sentence.The judge added he noted the contents of the Victim Impact Statement. The man very generously said that things were good. The court would pay some heed to what he has said.There had been no further adverse attention. It was a serious offence but appeared out of character. There was a background to what the defendant did, as wrong as it was.Sentencing was adjourned to May 6 for a community service report, Colin Gray remanded on continuing bail.Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
